Kite repair - Moti's the Man...

Just thought I would share my impressions on where to go when you need a kite repaired. Background and result...

Note: This is not an attack on anyone personally, or any business - so names will not be mentioned. This is simply to state Moti Levi Kite repair knows what they are doing - www.kiterepair.com.au


3 weeks ago I stacked it and blew a whole in my leading edge near the centre strut. Both the blader and leading edge needed fixing. I thought I would send it to Moti Levi as I had heard good reports on their work.

As I am feeling sorry for myself on the beach packing my kite the local shop owner says to me: - no problem man, we'll fix it. Just pack it and give to me, I'll take it to the shop and I'll fix the bladder myself and get my kite guy to fix the leading edge, it will be 3-4 days. I though that was extremely nice of him since he was also kiting and had to take my kite home and next dayto the shop and he has always been extremely helpful before anyway.

4 days later I get a call, kite is fixed, I asked how much, was told 120.00 which I thought it was fair, so I went to pick it up. Got to the shop, paid, decided to have a look at the work. Well... I wasn't pleased. My kite had a pice of fabric on it that looked like patchwork. Their contractor hadn't bothered to match the Cabrinha fabric and simply put a dark patch on it that stuck out like a sore thumb. The bladder was obviously well repaired as he the shop owner had done it himslef and has been in the industry for a long time so he knows what he's doing - no complaints here. But I wasn't happy at all that my beautifull and expensive kite (to me it is expensive) looked like my mother's quilt.

Please see photos below... this story ended well, but its not over.






This got a little hairy because when I complained that I didn't like the quality of the repair. Instead of listening to me - let's remember who the customer is..- I was told simply that it was a good repair and that the fabric would have been too hard to match, Cabrinha doesn't use standard colour fabrics, etc. This went on a lot longer but we'll stop here. As advised, I sought the opinion of others since I was clearly not happy. So I sent a few photos to Moti (displayed above).

The reply came almost immediatly - no problem, I'll fix it man. There was no critique about someone else's work, simply a fix-it attitude. He told me exactly what would happen and how much to unstitch the center strut, how much to re-inforce the interior of the leading edge, how much to stitch the whole thing back together and what the patch would look like - 100.00, which I also thought it was fair.

Kite was back a few days later and you guys judge, but I am now happy. Let me say this again... this is not an attack to a shop, I am not interested in politics - simply a statement that when you want something done properly send it to someone that does that 'specifically' for a living.

Regards, V

What I would do is to go to that local shop again (With a friendly attitude) show them the new repair and IFFFFF they are reasonable they can see the difference and they can improve their services for their next customers.

At the same time it was a very good thing that you showed your appreciation of a repair service and a business.
I'm sure that Moti did a good job and he deserves to be known in NSW.

As far as I can see you didn't attack any names unless I didn't get it (yes I am dumb).

Good Wind
Alex

Wow, I thought the first job looked pretty good, and thought "What is he complaining about?" I would have been happy with that result.

But seeing the comparison with the Moti job, now understand where you are coming from. Its a good advertisement for Moti, I'm sold.

First repair looks like a very professional and strong repair, personally i would have had no problems with that one!

I guess its your choice to spend another $100 on colour matching.

this is not an attack on anyone personally, so no names will be mentioned...but,
the poster sounds like a sooky douche

I so knew this was coming.. how can you transform a compliment into someone's work into a personal attack eheh. It never ceases to amaze me how negativity always creeps into these posts.

For the negative:[}:)]
In terms of the repair.. obviously you are so used to put up with crap that you no longer recognise the difference from an ok job to a good one. Good luck to you.
Personally.. I couldn't give a damn about the derogatory. I know who I am and the last thing I need is your approval. And yes, it is my hard-earned money so I will choose who to praise and not. It is because of that attitude that we don't get better service from contractors. So keep the slagging to yourselves, and if you still not happy ehehe, you know where to stick it (laughing my head off here)

For the positive: there is always room for improvement - if it had been done right the first time I wouldn't have had to spend additional funds. And it was possible to have it done right as the proof is on sight. That was the intention of this post.

I am somewhat glad to not being the only one with pride in their gear. It doesn't have to look like crap to justify use

I counted 2 negative replies out of 9. Chill out Sir V. It was a good subject to bring up & discuss.
cheers
COL

First repair looked perfect , just cause a 2" section on the inside of your leading edge didn't match the same colour ! You deserve to pay for it twice, you sook . I suppose you have to wear coulour coordinated undies when you kite ? This is a classic case of "Harden the F*** Up "

A final word of thanks..

Thanks to those who saw my point, just as McSalty explained.. and as a positive advice for future kite repairs

Thanks anyway to all others who offered 'advice'. We are all responsible for the standards we want in our lives, industry and sport.

HARD and WELL DONE can, and should go together whenever possible. This is one of such ocasions - it should have been done right the first time. Pity my kite was damaged in the process, but a lesson for the future - deal with professionals only.

I will keep the HTFU advice for the water - that's were we need it.

V

Sir V, seriously you do need to HTFU its just a kite, the colours dont have to match exactly like for your tutu that u prance around in during a body jam class. Check this out for quality repair and colour matching Indo style! Nice batik cloth, cheap price and still handles a working by a 6 foot set. What else do you want?

Well, I think that's what's called a win -win situation. Sir V got his colour match, Moti & the local guy (pity his name wasn't mentioned after all), got loads of free advertising, everyone is entirely clear exactly what is expected in a kite repair. I just love a happy ending!
cheers
COL